Town Square

16 running for council in Alamo

Original post made
on Dec 6, 2008

It's final. The deadline passed at 5 p.m. today and 16 people are running for the town council in Alamo - which will come into being only if residents of the census-designated area vote to incorporate. The election is March 3.

The concerns of a few people that Alamo would be taken over by Alamo Incorporation Movement people seems turns out not to have been very credible, after all. Of the 11 people on the AIM Committee, only three of them are running for Alamo Town Council: Vicki Koc, Steve Mick and Randy Nahas. That's less than 30 percent.

This also means that out of 16 people running, only three of them are AIM folks. That's less than 20 percent.

How can this be considered the "exclusion of a majority of residents by AIM from the incorporation process?"

Posted by Hal Bailey
a resident of another community
on Dec 6, 2008 at 7:40 pm

Ah, Dear Ron, exceptional reference,

But what about the issues of a defined, representative government and those willing to deliver. Specifics beyond references, definition beyond oxymoron, would be contributive. You have been more specific and invitational in the past.

Let's start such focus. We know that in the past 20 months AIM has avoided any definition of government and the establishment of citizens' participation and oversight. That is documented in omissions and absence of contribution. What is the potential campaign of AIM and Contra Costa politically-connected candidates in a majority voter environment that demands such specification.

Posted by Karen Sexton
a resident of another community
on Dec 6, 2008 at 10:15 pm

Dear Editor, (taken from regional e-exchanges)

As a result of discussion groups today, Diablo Vista region neighbors intend invitations to all council candidates to provide presentation of their approach to government. Each candidate will be contacted by neighborhood representatives for a public meeting that will include invitation to the media to participate. The resulting dialog will be shared with e-exchanges within our regions.

Such invitation will occur in January to allow all candidates to establish their campaign focus.

Many supporters of incorporation, like you, have created our own on-line community to share our hopes for the future of our community. We welcome all neighbors' invitation to draw our council candidates into discussions of our future and how we will define our government to our community's future. We join you in outreach as all in our community find our way together to a government of our own.

We do not see you as challengers and appreciate your willingness to join is public discussion with all candidates. In the peace of the season we can move many steps forward in our future together.

Posted by Hal Bailey
a resident of another community
on Dec 9, 2008 at 4:09 pm

Dear Dolores,

I have read Dan's comments several times just to enjoy the brilliance of his outreach message. But there are more!

Today, a Livorna West neighbor walked the trail to my neighborhood to discuss his opposition to incorporation and what would remedy opposition. There is outreach coming from all perspectives on incorporation and it seems the spirit of the holidays is causing consideration of "what happens after the election?" All perspectives seem to be focusing on our collective future.

Maybe best said today was, "Hal, By February 8, most voters will have voted absentee and the election will have already been decided. Two months is all neighbors have to really decide!"

There are changes in perspective happening. Candidates have less than 45 days to make a difference to the absentee voters. In my life in marketing, this time of year is the very best time to reach the person deep within prospects and enjoy very human consideration.

Hal's posted comments to Dolores, as editor, might be better understood if all residents understood why so many chose not to run. The 16 running for council are all familiar names among the community groups and few represent the majority of neighbors and their neighborhoods.

Why did eleven neighbors withdraw from applying as candidates and why are the current candidates running?

Posted by Rachel Wells
a resident of Alamo
on Dec 11, 2008 at 10:13 am

Notice to all Alamo Town Council Candidates (to be a mailed notice to candidates with attachements)

In the next 60 days a majority of voters will be determining their vote on incorporation and council candidates for their mail-in ballots. Already seven days have elapsed since your candidacy was announced and a majority of voters are waiting for your definition of government and commitment to inclusion of citizens in government. Your neighbors wish to trust that incorporation provides the best future for our region and need your definition and citizens' inclusion to trust the current incorporation proposal.

Posted by Hal Bailey, CDSI
a resident of another community
on Dec 15, 2008 at 9:50 am

Dear Dolores,

This morning, CDSI Researchers gathered a detailed analysis of incorporation during the state and county fiscal crisis. Within the confidential document were explanations why cities are likely to be better able to respond to strong shortfalls in revenue and rapidly-increasing costs from primary contract-services such as public safety and public works.

One key factor is well-disciplined fiscal management by very experienced council members and expert city management. Cities led by individuals with commercial financial expertise can use corporate fiscal practices to rapidly change budgets, delay projects and expand economic development for revenues. Cities are not burdened, for the most part, by major government unions and the lack of flexibility in immediate staffing and budget actions.

This fiscal crisis is an exceptional impact on voters' consideration of council candidates' financial qualification as well as Alamo incorporation itself. Revenues and costs have strongly shifted from expressions in the LAFCO CFA and any council, like a board of directors, will have an imbalanced revenue/costs issue as an immediate task for enrolled town management.

It will be difficult, but a well-managed budget with significantly reduced revenues and higher costs could still be our lowest-cost option for our regional residents. And, Dolores, that is newsworthy!

Posted by Louise Buriss
a resident of Alamo
on Jan 6, 2009 at 10:28 am

I am brand new to the area. I am trying to make an informed decision regarding council canidates. On December 6th a post from Karen Sexton stated:
We wish to say "no thank you" to the following candidates:

A minor clarification regarding Alamo Rons comments Dec. 6. Only 3 candidates are AIM members but 5 others are AIA associates and the two organizations are inextricably entwined. This makes a total of 8/16 or 50% of the candidates with a possible common agenda. (note the AIA is a self appointed group with no legislative authority and no experience requirements for membership)

Also, you may want to check out my neighbor who is running, Dennis Johnson. A relative newcomer to town but very experienced.(see johnson4council.blogspot.com)

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